Governing means for internal-combustion engines.



o A. GARLSON. GOVERNING MEANS FOR INTERNAL- COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED F312, 1910.

Patented Sept 20.1910.

INVENTOR M 12614.;

WITNESSES.

BY V A ATTfiRNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. CARLSON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO CARLSON MOTOR & TRUCK COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

GOVERNING MEANS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 20, 1910.

Application filed February 2, 1910. Serial No. 541,415.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. CARLsoN, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Governing Means for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formlng a part thereof.

My invention relates to improvements in governing means for internal combustion engines, and particularly to means for governing the engine through control of the electrical ignition circuit therein.

My invention consists in a novel form of a circuit closing device comprising a closed cylindrical casing containinga rotatable carrier and a centrifugal weight carried thereby, adapted to close circuit through a contact element in the said casing as the speed of the carrier increases. In the preferred form of my invention the closing of circuit in the circuit closing device is arranged to short circuit the primary circuit of an induction coil in a high tension ignition system.

My invention also consists in many novel details of construction and combinations of parts as will be fully pointed out hereinafter, and in order that my invention may be thoroughly understood, I will now proceed to describe an embodiment thereof, having reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating the same, and will then point out the novel features in claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a high tension ignition system for a four-cylinder internal combustion engine and having my improved governing means employed in connection therewith. Fig. 2 is a view in central vertical transverse section through the governing device. Fig. 3 is a view in central vertical longitudinal section through the same.

By referring first to the governing device illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the same will be seen to comprise, in general, a closed casing 5, a rotatable carrier 6 therein, and centrifugally operated circuit closing means carried thereby. The casing comprises two end heads 78 and a cylinder 9 between them, the head 7 being screw-threaded as at 29, whereby it may be secured to a frame or other stationary portion of an internal combustion engine. The carrier 6 comprises a disk and a hub, the latter being secured fast upon a shaft 10, which may be the main shaft of the engine, or some other shaft connected in driving relation therewith.

Pivoted to the carrier disk are two arms or frames 1112, the former being pivoted at 13 at the extremity thereof, and the latter at a point 14 intermediate its extremities. The direction of rotation of the carrier 6 is in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2, and the said arms or frames 11 and 12 are pivoted to the carrier at or near their forward ends,that is to say, they project rearwardly from their pivotal points, with respect to the direction in which the carrier rotates. The said arms or frames are connected together by means of a link 15 which connects with the arm or frame 11 intermediate its ends and with the arm or frame 12 at the extremity thereof in front of its pivotal point 14. By this means the two arms or frames are connected together so that they will move outwardly or inwardly together. The arms or frames 11 and 12 are provided at their rear extremities with weights 16 and 17, the weight 16 being revolubly mounted with respect to the arm or frame 11 which carries it, while the weight 17 is secured fast to the arm or frame 12 by means of a clamping nut 18. A. spring 19 secured at one end to the carrier, as, for instance, to the pivotal pin 13 of the arm or frame 11, is secured at its other end to the arm or frame 12, conveniently to the weight 17 near the periphery thereof. This spring tends to draw the weighted arm or frame 12 inwardly and as a similar movement is imparted through the link 15 to the weighted arm or frame 11, the action of the said spring. is to move both of the arms inwardly together. The tension of the spring 19 may be varied by loosening the nut 18, rotating the weight 17 about its axis, and then again tightening the clamping nut 18 to secure the weight in its adjusted position.

Rotational movements of the carrier will generate centrifugal force in the weighted arms 1112 to throw them outward against the tension of the spring 19 and the force thus generated will, of course, be proportionate to the speed of rotation of the car rier. The weight 16 is provided with a portion 20 which is of larger diameter than the other portion and which is of larger diameter than the weight 17, and as the speed of rotation of the carrier increases the centrifugal force will be sufficient to throw the weight 16. outward to cause the portion 20 to engage the inner wall of the casing. This interior wall is provided with one or more (in the present case two) contact strips 21 which, being in the path of movement of the enlarged portion 20 of the weight, Wlll be engaged thereby under the foregoing conditions. These strips are shown in 1*1g. 1 as connected with the primary winding 22 of an induction coil 28, while the portion 20 of the weight is connected therewith upon the other side of the induction coil through common ground or metallic return. The secondary winding of the induction coil is connected through a distributer 24: with the spark plugs 25, 26, 27, and 28 of a mult cylinder internal combustion engme, as is shown. A magneto generator 30 1s illustrated for supplying current through the primary winding of the induction coil.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when circuit is closed through either of the contact strips 2l2l by contact of the portion 20 of the weight 16 therewith, the generator 30 will be grounded and the primary winding of the induction coil 23 thereby short circuited. These strips may, if desired, continue all the way around the casing in which case the ignition circuit will be entirely short circuited for so long a timeas the speed of the shaft 10 is sufficient to mamtain the weighted portion 20 1n engagement with the said strips, but I preferably arrange these strips only a part of the way around the casing so that the sald ignition circuit will only be short circuited part of the time under such speed conditions. As illustrated in the drawings the strips 21-21 correspond with two of the four circuit closing elements of the distributor 24, whereby the ignition circuit will be short circuited for two of the spark plugs only, viz., the spark plugs 25 and 27. By this means two of the four cylinders of the engine will be caused to operate while the other two will be rendered inoperative.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have constructed and devised an exceedingly simple yet efiective means for governing the engine. The governing device itself 1s of small size and completely inclosed, whereby it is dust and dirt proof and is protected from accidental injury.

WVhat I claim is:

1. A device for governing internal combustion engines through control of the electrical ignition circuit therein comprising a closed cylindrical casing, an electrically conductive contact element therein, a radially movable centrifugal weight located in the said casing and adapted under the influence of centrifugal force to engage the said element to close circuit therethrough, a rotatable means for carrying the said Weight, and a spring for the said Weight, arranged to exert a force to move the same in opposition to the movement thereof under the influence of centrifugal force.

2. A device for governing internal combustion engines through control of the electrical ignition circuit therein, comprising a closed cylindrical casing, an electrically conductive contact element upon the inner cylindrical wall therein, a radially movable centrifugal weight located in the said casing and adapted under the influence of centrifugal force to engage the said element to close circuit therethrough, a rotatable means for carrying the said weight, and a spring for the said weight, arranged to exert a force to move the same in opposition to the movement thereof under the influence of centrifugal force.

3. A device for governing internal combustion engines through control of the electrical ignition circuit therein, comprising a closed cylindrical casing, an electrically conductive contact element upon the inner cylindrical wall therein, a rotatable carrier within said casing, a weighted arm pivoted thereon at a point eccentric to its center of rotation, the said arm carrying a part for engagement with said contact element, and a spring for opposing the movement of said weighted arm under the influence of centrifugal force.

at. A device for governing internal combustion engines through control of the electrical ignition circuit therein, comprising a closed cylindrical casing, an electrically conductive contact element upon the inner cylindrical wall therein, a rotatable carrier within the said casing, two weighted arms pivotally secured to the carrier upon opposite sides of its axis of rotation, one of the said arms being provided with a part for engagement with the said contact element, and a spring for drawing the said arms together.

5. A device for governing internal combustion engines through control of the electrical ignition circuit therein, comprising a closed cylindrical casing, an electrically conductive contact element upon the inner cylindrical wall therein, a rotatable carrier within the said casing, two weighted arms pivotally secured to the carrier upon opposite sides of its axis of rotation, one of the said arms being provided with a part for engagement with the said contact element, a link connecting the arms together to cause them to move outwardly or inwardly together, and a spring tending to cause the said arms to move inwardly.

6. A device for governing internal combustion engines through control of the electrical ignition circuit therein, comprising a closed cylindrical casing, an electrically conductive contact element upon the inner cylin drical wall therein, a rotatable carrier within the casing, two weighted arms pivotally secured to the carrier upon the opposite sides of its axis of rotation, and both pointing the same way with respect to the direction of rotation of the said carrier, one of the said arms being provided with a part for engagement with the said contact element, a link connecting the arms together to cause them to move outwardly or inwardly together, and a spring tending to cause the said arms to move inwardly.

7. A device for governing internal combustion engines through control of the electrical ignition circuit therein, comprising a closed cylindrical casing, an electrically conductive contact element upon the inner cylindrical wall therein, a rotatable carrier within the casing, two arms pivotally secured to the carrier upon the opposite sides of its axis of rotation, weights carried by the said arms to the rear, in the direction of rotation of the carrier, of the pivotal points, one of the said weights being provided with an enlarged portion to engage the said contact element, a link connecting the said arms together upon opposite sides of their said pivots, and a spring for drawing the said arms together.

8. In governing means for internal combustion engines, the combination with an induction coil having primary and second ary windings, a generator for the primary winding, and a spark plug arranged to be connected with the secondary winding, of a closed cylindrical casing, an electrically conductive contact element therein, connected to the circuit of the primary winding, a radially movable centrifugal weight located in the said casing and adapted, under the influence of centrifugal force, to engage said element and thereby to short circuit the said primary winding, a rotatable means for carrying the said weight, and a spring for the said weight, arranged to exert a force to move the same in opposition to the movement thereof under the influence of centrifugal force.

9. In governing means for internal combustion engines, the combination with an induction coil having primary and secondary windings, a generator for the primary winding, and a spark plug arranged to be connected with the secondary winding, of a closed cylindrical casing, an electrically conductive contact element upon the inner cylindrical wall therein, connected to the circuit of the primary winding, a radially movable centrifugal weight located in the said casing and adapted, under the influence of centrifugal force, to engage'said element and thereby to short circuit the said pri mary winding, a rotatable means for carrying the said weight, and a spring for the said weight, arranged to exert force to move the same in opposition to the movements thereof under the influence of centrifugal force.

10. In governing means for internal conibustion engines the combination with an induction coil having primary and second ary windings, a generator for the primary winding, and a spark plug arranged to be connected with the secondary winding, of a closed cylindrical casing, an electrically conductive contact element upon the inner cylindrical wall therein, connected to the circuit of the primary winding a rotatable carrier within said casing, a weighted arm pivoted thereon at a point eccentric to its center of rotation, the said arm carrying a part for engagement with said contact element to thereby short circuit the said primary winding, and a spring for opposing the movement of said weighted arm under the illfluence of centrifugal force.

11. In governing means for internal combustion engines the combination with an induction coil having primary and secondary windings, a generator for the primary winding, and a spark plug arranged to be connected with the secondary winding, of a closed cylindrical casing, an electrically conductive contact element upon the inner cylindrical wall therein, connected to the circuit of the primary winding, a rotatable carrier within the said casing, two weighted arms pivotally secured to the carrier upon opposite sides of its axis of rotation, one of the said arms being provided with a part for engagement with said contact element, to thereby short circuitthe said primary winding, and a spring for drawing the said arms together.

12. In governing means for internal combustion engines the combination with an induction coil having primary and secondary windings, a generator for the primary winding and a spark plug arranged to be connected with the secondary winding, of a closed cylindrical casing, an electrically conductive contact element upon the inner cylindrical wall therein connected to the circuit of the primary winding, a rotatable carrier within the said casing, two weighted arms pivotally secured to the carrier upon opposite sides of its axis of rotation, one of the said arms being provided with a part for engagement with the said contact element, to thereby short circuit the said pri mary winding, a link connecting the said arms together to cause them to move outwardly or inwardly together, and a spring tending to cause the said arms to move inwardly.

13. In governing means for internal combustion engines the combination wit-h an induction coil having primary and secondary windings, a generator for the primary winding and a spark plug arranged to be connected with the secondary winding, of a closed cylindrical casing, an electrically conductive contact element upon the inner cylindrical wall therein, connected to the circuit of the primary winding, a rotatable carrier within the casing, two weighted arms pivotally secured to the carrier upon opposite sides of its axis of rotation and both pointing the same way with respect to the direction of rotation of the said carrier, one of the said arms being provided with a part for engagement with the said contact element, to thereby short circuit the said primary winding, a link connecting the arms together, to'cause them to move outwardly or inwardly together, and a spring tending to cause the said arms to move inwardly.

14. In governing means for internal combustion engines the combination with an induction coil having primary and secondary windings, a generator for the primary winding and a spark plug arranged to be connected with the secondary winding, of an electrically conductive contact element upon the inner cylindrical. wall therein connected to the circuit of the primary winding, a rotatable carrier within the casing, two arms pivotally secured to the carrier upon opposite sides of its axis of rotation, weights carried by the said arms to the rear, in the di rection of rotation of the carrier, of the piv' otal points, one of the said weights being provided with an enlarged portion to engage the said contact element and thereby to short circuit the said primary winding, a link connecting the said arms together upon opposite sides of their pivotal points, and a spring for drawing the said arms together.

15. A device for governing internal combustion engines through control of the electrical ignition circuit therein comprising a. closed cylindrical casing, an electrically conductive contact element therein, a rotatable carrier located within the casing, two oppositely disposed centrifugal weights mounted to move radially with respect to the carrier under the influence of centrifugal force, one of the said weights being revolubly mounted and provided with a portion for engagement with the said contact element and the other of the said weights being held relatively stationary and in a position to prevent its engaging the said contact element, and means connecting the weights together whereby they will move inwardly or outwardly together.

16. A device for governing internal combustion engines through control of the electrical ignition circuit therein comprising a closed cylindrical casing, an electrically conductive contact element therein, a radially movable centrifugal weight located in the said casing and adapted, under the influence of centrifugal force to engage the said element to close circuit therethrough, a rotatable means for carrying the said weight, a spring for drawing said weight inward, and means for adjusting the tension of the said spring.

17. A device for governing internal combustion engines through control of the electrical ignition circuit therein comprising a closed cylindrical casing, an electrically conductive contact element extending a portion of the way around the interior cylindrical wall, a rotatable movable centrifugal weight located in the said casing and adapted, under the influence of centrifugal force, to engage the said element to close circuit therethrough, a rotatable means for carrying the said weight, and a spring for the said weight, arranged to exert a force to move the same in opposition to the movement thereof under the influence of centrifugal force.

18. A device for governing internal combustion engines through control of the electrical ignition circuit therein comprising a closed cylindrical casing, a plurality of electrically conductive contact elements arranged upon the inner cylindrical wall therein and longitudinally spaced apart, a radially movable centrifugal weight located in the casing and adapted, under the influence of centrifugal force, to engage the said element to close circuit therethrough, a rotatable means for carrying the said weight, and a spring for the said weight, arranged to exert a force to move the same in opposition to the movement thereof under the influence of con trifugal force.

CHARLES A. OARLSON.

\Vitnesses:

D. HOWARD HAYwooD, LYMAN S. ANDREWS, Jr. 

